Celtic could sign a new player who’s like a “£100m winger”

Celtic’s preparations for the 2026/27 campaign began in earnest on Tuesday evening, with the Scottish champions playing out a 1-1 draw with Shelbourne away in Ireland.

It took a stoppage-time penalty from the returning Shin Yamada to level things up for the visitors, with Martin O’Neill’s men taking to the field without having secured a single new signing this summer.

Well, as O’Neill himself confirmed, that appears set to change as a matter of when and not if, with Colombian striker Camilo Duran undergoing a medical ahead of his arrival from Qarabag.

The 24-year-old, who scored five times in last season’s Champions League, will join for a reported fee of around £6m, potentially set to prove the first of many when it comes to reinforcements at Parkhead.

Celtic could see bid accepted for second signing after Duran

Speaking after the club’s first pre-season clash, O’Neill did hint Duran’s arrival will be followed by further moves over the coming weeks, the 74-year-old suggesting that there are a “number of players” being looked at.

Among those on the transfer shortlist might well be Motherwell’s Elijah Just, with it having been reported that the Hoops may seek to accelerate their interest in the in-form Kiwi.

The 26-year-old enhanced his reputation even further after netting three goals in just three World Cup games for New Zealand, ensuring Celtic will have a fight on their hands to secure his signature.

The same might also be true regarding another breakout World Cup star, Haissem Hassan, with the Daily Record reporting that the Glasgow giants remain in the race for the Egyptian’s signature.

Indeed, the belief is that any suitor could strike a deal for around £10m, with the 24-year-old’s release clause having dropped down from a prior figure of £16m, following Real Oviedo’s recent relegation.

There might even be a chance to negotiate a fee closer to £4m, as per the report, although the Spanish side will have to hand over 40% of the transfer fee to the winger’s former club, Villarreal.

How Hassan compares to Elijah Just

It was the season of the breakout star in 2025/26, be it Benjamin Nygren, Claudio Braga or that man Just, all of whom arrived from Scandinavia last summer.

In Just’s case, he had been out on loan from parent club Horsens in Austria’s second tier in 2024/25, prior to ripping it up in the Premiership last time out, racking up 14 goals and assists at Fir Park.

Add to that his World Cup heroics, and it’s easy to see why Just is courting such intense interest, not least from those at Parkhead.

And yet, having also seen Hassan in action in recent weeks, the Egyptian is a real sensation in his own right, hailed as looking like a “£100m winger” by The Secret Scout.

That lofty praise came after the winger’s stunning display against Argentina on Tuesday evening, the left-footer providing the assist for Zico to make it 2-0 on the night, following a delightful turn and pull-back inside the area.

Prior to that, Hassan had also been heavily involved in his teammate’s controversially disallowed goal, weaving his way through a sea of defenders down the right flank in outrageous fashion.

It was the type of run that typically belonged to other men on the pitch, in the form of Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah, marking a fine way to raise his profile on just his second outing of the tournament.

The £10m-rated speedster had been part of the Oviedo side that slipped back into the second tier last term, registering zero goals and only three assists in LaLiga.

That might not match Just’s own tally, although Hassan was competing in one of Europe’s top five leagues, having showcased more than enough to suggest he could explode in the Premiership.

Indeed, his average of 1.6 successful dribbles per game in 2025/26 comfortably eclipsed Just’s own average of just 1.3, highlighting what a terror the Oviedo star is down that right flank.

In comparison to his fellow wingers or attacking midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues last term, Hassan notably ranked in the top 1% for productive dribbles and the top 7% for successful dribbles per 90, alongside also ranking in the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 5% for progressive actions.

In essence, he is a master at dragging his team up the field with his blend of speed and trickery, as was seen against Messi and co this week, with there typically an end product to match, as he also ranked in the top 10% for carries ending in a shot.

To have already performed at such a level in an elite league like LaLiga bodes well for what he can offer up at Celtic, with Just, at 26, yet to prove himself at a higher tier so far.

At a time when Celtic’s forward line is crying out for a fresh injection of dynamism and directness, Hassan might well be the player to offer just that.